Pins and Needles

[firsttimemum]

Hi Everyone

I have got three weeks to go now but I am finding that I am waking up in the middle of the night with terrible pins and needles to the point where I can't sleep and they take ages to go away. Also my knuckles are really sore when I clench my fists??? :confused: Has anyone else had this problem????

Thanks

[Lallas' Mum]

Are the pins and needles mainly in your hands?

I suffered from carpal tunnel sydrome with my last pregnancy quite severely. The night time pins and needles started at about 15 weeks and from about thirty weeks onwards I had constant pins and needles in my hands and found it hard to do the simplest of tasks such as cleaning my teeth, writing and typing. I couldn't hold anything small for a long period of time because the pain was unbearable. I was eventually prescribed with wrist splints to help me sleep and get through daily tasks.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve in the wrist that passes through a tunnel shape in your wrist gets squashed. In pregnancy this usually occurs due to a build up of extra fluid.

The good news is that most the time it goes away after birth. Within five weeks of giving birth to my son the tingling had stopped and everything was back to normal. I am expecting again at present and I am 35 weeks. I am only just starting to get very mild symptoms but so far it hasn't been much of a worry.

Try to avoid closing your hands too much. especially when you sleep as this will squash the nerve even more.

I advise you speak to your doctor and he/she may be able to organise some splints to hep you when you sleep. If not, you can buy a "resting wrist splint" from the chemists but be warned they are about pricey.

I hope all works out for you and if you want to ask me any questions about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome feel free.

Good luck

Tracey
:) Mum to Alec (Lalla) 17 months, bub due May 2nd

[miss_moe]

I am experiencing the exact same symptoms and have for about a week. I am 34 weeks pregnant. Seems to go away after I get out of bed and start doing things, but just during the night and first thing.

I spoke to my midwife who said it is quite common due to the large retention of fluids and the compression on the nerves. I was told to try and sleep with my hands unclenched and elevated ... can't say I have worked out how to do this when I am asleep. And if it gets really bad to sleep with splints...either from a physio or paddle pop sticks to strap my wrists straight.

oh and my yoga teacher recommended eating lots of celery.

you're definiately not alone

renee.

[nazy]

I got this pretty bad too. It is the swelling for me. My feet, hands and face swell up so bad that it starts to sting a little. Maybe that is all it is. I don't know why it happens but limit salt and drink a lot of water and swelling doesn't happen as badly.